Believing that innovation stems from a diversity of different interests and activities, Marc Mailhot enjoys life as a hobby duck and chicken farmer, gardener, songwriter, environmentalist, program and curriculum developer, husband and father of four. In his work as an elementary school teacher, he is especially interested in project and service-based learning, in which students achieve curriculum goals while providing significant acts of service to the local community. As part of this focus he is also interested in ¨blended learning¨, in which technology is integrated into classroom experiences so as to provide more personalized learning experiences for students.
Marc has been working on the Grandpals project, with different classes, for about 5 years. Over this time he has had the privilege of working with many other team members who have been just as passionate about witnessing the magic that can happen when young and elderly have a chance to connect and share. Encouraged by the program’s success at the Brampton public library, Marc now sees the potential for Granpdals to have a broader impact. Schools, libraries, churches, seniors centers, or other social organizations can all be part of bringing forth rich, inter generational programming for the benefit of all involved.